Date of Award

6-2025

Document Type

Thesis - SCU Access Only

Publisher

Santa Clara : Santa Clara University, 2025

Departments

Electrical and Computer Engineering; General Engineering

First Advisor

Shoba Krishnan

Second Advisor

Jes Kuczenski

Abstract

Veggielution is a nonprofit community farm located in East San Jose that supports food justice and education programs. However, its buildings face limitations due to a lack of reliable and sustainable power. With no funding allocated for infrastructure upgrades, Veggielution sought a cost-effective energy solution.

The goal of this project was to design a solar-powered microgrid that could supply electricity for lighting, ventilation, and hot water to Veggielution. The system needed to be low-cost, easy to install, and maintain by community members.

Our team developed a complete deployment package that includes a cost estimate, DIY installation instructions, component sourcing recommendations, and a system maintenance plan featuring load-shedding strategies. The system design incorporates eight 300W solar panels mounted at a 30.3° southwest angle on a newly proposed structure.

Although the full system could not be implemented on-site due to budget constraints, a scaled lab prototype was constructed using funding from the School of Engineering to validate the performance of our design. The final deliverable, a comprehensive deployment manual, equips Veggielution with the guidance needed to install the system when future funding becomes available, ensuring long-term sustainability and energy independence.

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